A local city's leafy suburb battle: Why one council's $1,000 tree fines signal a green turning point

When you think about Perth's biggest challenges, traffic jams and summer heat probably spring to mind. But there's another crisis quietly unfolding in our suburbs—and it's literally about keeping our cool.

The City of Canning has just cranked up the heat on tree vandals, quadrupling fines from $250 to $1,000 for anyone caught damaging or removing trees on council land.

While this might seem like typical council heavy-handedness, the reality is far more serious: Perth has only 16 per cent tree canopy coverage and is ranked as Australia's most barren major city, with just 22 per cent of the population living in suburbs with more than 20 per cent tree cover.

To put that in perspective, Melbourne has 30 per cent of residents in well-canopied areas, Sydney has 44 per cent, and Brisbane boasts an impressive 79 per cent. When you're dealing with the hottest summers in the country and yet still have no state-wide tree canopy target, every single tree matters.

The great suburban tree massacre

Canning's tough new stance comes after what Mayor Patrick Hall describes as 'mass destruction' of public trees. The most startling example? Thirty to forty nut trees planted specifically to feed local cockatoos were destroyed in Canning Vale—a program that took years to establish, wiped out in acts of senseless vandalism.

But here's the kicker: despite having tree protection laws since 2021, no one has actually been fined yet. Council staff say prosecutions have been 'tricky' - perhaps because a $250 fine felt more like a parking ticket than a serious deterrent.

Even the new $1,000 penalty has some councillors scratching their heads. 'I think $1,000 actually is still a little bit low,' admits Councillor Joanne Page, noting that it can cost property owners thousands to go through proper tree retention processes. The Local Government Amendment Act 2024 now allows councils to seek convictions up to $10,000—and some are calling for the full amount.

The cooling truth about urban trees

For Perth's growing population of seniors, this tree debate isn't academic. Urban forest advocates say achieving 30 per cent tree canopy cover could lower Perth temperatures by up to 10°C—a potentially life-saving difference during our scorching summers.

The science is clear: when large trees are removed and replaced with hard surfaces, these areas absorb and store heat during the day, then release it at night, creating the 'urban heat island effect' that exposes residents to much higher temperatures for longer periods each day.

This urban heat island effect has a major impact on the liveability of cities and levels of community health and wellbeing—and the easiest way to address it is to protect and plant more trees.

The carrot approach: cash for keeping trees

Thankfully, Canning isn't just wielding the stick—they're dangling some pretty sweet carrots too. Under their groundbreaking tree preservation scheme, property owners can earn $200 per year for each registered large, native tree on their land—and that payment continues 'forever,' according to Mayor Hall.

The maths is compelling: a property with six qualifying trees would pocket $1,200 annually. For retirees on fixed incomes, that's a handy boost that also helps the environment. The trees must meet strict criteria—they need to be significant, native, and very large—but for those who qualify, it's money in the bank for doing absolutely nothing.

State sweeteners make it even better

The good news extends beyond Canning's boundaries. All Western Australians over 18 can now apply for cash rebates of up to $150 simply for planting native trees in their gardens through two state programs.

The 'Treebate Program' is a $6.9 million initiative open to all WA residents, while the Tree Recovery Program specifically helps those who've lost trees to the destructive polyphagous shot-hole borer—a pest that's already claimed over 4,500 Perth trees.

The bigger picture: Perth's green awakening

Perth councils are racing to achieve 30 per cent tree canopy coverage within the next decade, a target that the WA Tree Canopy Alliance says is urgently needed by 2040. Canning alone plans to plant more than 60,000 new trees over the next 20 years—an ambitious goal that requires both community buy-in and serious protection of existing trees.

The challenge is enormous. Research shows 85 per cent of Perth's tree canopy is on private land, making protection crucial, while some suburbs have lost so many trees they're left with just 10 per cent canopy cover.

But there are signs of hope. Sydney's tree canopy increased from 21 per cent to 21.7 per cent between 2019 and 2022, with the biggest gains in areas that received targeted government investment in urban greening programs.

What this means for your neighbourhood

Whether you're in Canning or elsewhere in Perth, this tree protection trend is likely coming to your area soon. The WA Local Government Association has established an Urban Forest Working Group with 34 councils actively developing tree protection strategies.

The message is clear: if you're thinking about removing a tree, check with your council first. The days of 'ask forgiveness rather than permission' are numbered, and the financial penalties are becoming serious enough to make anyone think twice.

For those with mature trees, these changing rules could represent a genuine financial opportunity. The combination of state rebates for new plantings and ongoing payments for tree preservation in some areas means your garden could become a steady income stream while helping combat Perth's heat island effect.